Street sweeper dirt box assembly



March 25, 1958 c. T. LINK, JR., ETAL 2,828,037

STREET SWEEPER DIRT Box ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 24, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l c. T. |..1NK, JR., EIAL STREET swEEPER DIRT Box ASSEMBLY March z5, 195s 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1954 .EWI/fan fr' March 25,'1958 c. T. LINK, JR., ETAL STREET swEEPER DIRT Box ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 24, 1954 United States Patent This. invention relates` to-` an. street sweeper dirt box as sembly, and more particularlyl to a readily constructedand operated, eicientreliable dirt boxassembly. arranged totprovide maximum dirtistoragecapaeity within'thevminimumover-all size of the streettsweepen `In. the dirt` box` assembly of this invention-,-Y a dirt box.`

may have a floor arranged to receive and supporti dirt and.` may also have ay pair` of: side Wallsand at least one endwall to-prevent flow off. thedirt @if of; theoor. The' dirt` box may normally be in a position withI the hoor-A in.. aA generally. horizontal dirt-receiving positionbutis` arranged to be tilted to a position to. discharge the' dirt therefrom.

The` dirt box may. receive dirt directly from astreet sweeper broom, but,.most preferablythe sweeper has anV upwardly inclined conveyor for receiving dirti from the broom and conveying the dirtl upwardly to-discharge the dirt. down onto. the dirt box. hoor which is disposed in` underlying relation to an` upper portion.. of theconveyon According to a specific feature.. of. the invention, the dirtboxhas one end portion in relatively closely spaced. relation to the lower endofthe conveyor with'the opposite end portion thereof projecting beyond a point in vertical alignment with the upper` end ofthev conveyor so as to make maximum use of. the space below the conveyor withinthe street sweeper.

The dirt box is tiltable to discharge dirt from-the end thereof spaced furthest from the lower. end ofthe conveyor, most preferably about an axis adjacent such end. According to a speciic feature ofthe invention, a baffle plate may be provided" for engaging. the end` of4 thedirt biox" closestto the conveyor during. tiltingmovernentV of .the dirt' box, the baffle plate being. `disposed in an Iarc about' the axisof tilting` movement' of the dirt boxin relatively closely spaced relation to the underside ofthe upwardly inclined conveyor. It' will be appreciated that.

this construction;i the space in the street sweeper is utilized to a maximum advantage for the. accumulation of dirt;

According to a further feature of `the invention, the streetrsweeper comprises a housin'ghaving an opening thereinl withl a door; preferably hinged; being provided for closing theA opening, the dirtboxbeing disposed within the housing and being' arranged to discharge. outsuch openingwhen the door is opened.

According to a specific feature of" the invention, means are provided connecting the door to. the dirt' box whereby the dirt box automaticallyl discharges out through the opening whenthe door is opened. Such meansconnectingthe dirt box to the door may most preferably be' ar.u ranged to actuate`the dirt box only after the door is opened to ay predetermined: extent.

The door may be manuallyactuated but, most preferably, fluid actuated means are-provided for actuating the door, the dirt boxbeing actuated from the door through the above-referred connection' means between the dirt box and thedoor.

According; to.rv stillt. another feature'. ofi the invention, thei door carriess door meanst forming: continuation of: thel dira box=` floor.` sothat: arr auxiliary' on second dirt box'. is provided. The door may be tiltablesaway'from-the dirti box: to discharge. from" ther licor means; carried-q thereby, withtth'efdirt boxubeing thereafterrtiltableo:dischargecdirti from theiioorY thereof through the-space.` initially occupied:

' by the lloor means carriedl by thedoor;= It will: be: ap`

preciated that this construction. provides.-A a.pair of dirtf boxes with the` dirtbox denedf bythe?y door discharging rst and the main dirt. box being; thereafter actuated tor aidischar'fge-positiont.`

At still. furtherv specific` featureires-idesm the connection:`

means between the door and the main dirt box by which; thef door is opened to a` predeterminedlex-tent before the dirt boxisIactuated, the-dirt boxbeing actuated-only.= with further opening. movement` of the. door. Although any known type of lostfmotionl connection might-suffice asa* connection betweemthedoorand,- the=` dirt box,the-connection, according] to thisinventionpcomprisesi a pair of pivotally -connected links with adjustable means for limiting. relativeV pivotal movement` of` the. links. More speciiically, the connectionmay comprisea rstlinkpivoted on: aiirstaxis. to the dirtbox,.a secondlinkpivotedto the. ii'rst link on a. second axisfandpivotedto the door ona third axis with.` such second. axis beingnormally dispos'edg a` substantial distance from a line through:V the first and'.

third. axes, adjustable means-'being provided for limiting. movement of'suchsecond axis toward such line..- Preferably, such adjustable means may comprise a screw threaded" on. one` of the links andl engageable with` theother of the links.

It' will be apparent" that thisinventioniprovidesa readily constructed: and operated,. efficient and reliable dirt box assembly arranged to provide maximum dirt storage capacity with minimum overall size of thestreetsweeper.

It will further be apparent that the principles of' this invention are' not necessarily limited7 to street sweepersbut. may be applied' to any machine or structure wherein1 is desired to accumulate dirt,. refuse, or' any' materials having,V similar characteristics, .and the terms 'dirt'andstreet sweeper are, therefore, used in a' sense to include` equivalent' materials; machines, o'r structures.

An object of; thisinvention, accordingly, is' to provide a readily constructedV and operated; efficient' and: reliable dirt box assembly' arranged to provide maximum dirti. storage capacity with minimumY overall size ofthest'reet" sweeper. 1

A further object of this= invention is' to provide an. proved dirt box' assembly including a door arranged for'` closing and opening in` the housingof' a' street sweeper where the dirt box in thehousingisarlangedtov discharge" out such' opening' when the door is opened.

Another object of this invention isA tot provide an im'- proved dirt box assembly in` which connection meansare.' provided between a door and a dirt box to actuate the dirt boxy after the door i`sopened to ai predetermined extent.

A still further objectZ of' this* invention is'toA provide ani improved dirt box assembly inwhirch a' door isiformed with four means forming aV continuationof a dirtbox oor', to thus providefapair of dirt boxes.

Still another object of this invention is' to'` provide improved connection means between tiltable dirt box structures'A or the like. t

this invention contemplates other objectsgteaturesfand advantages which will become more fully apparent from' the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which' illustrate a preferred embodiment' and" in which: g

Figure'v l( is a side elevational view `of a street" sweeper machine utilizing a dirt box assembly constructed.- in ab# cordancewith thej principles ofthis' invention;4

Figure ais alsecticina1`J elevational viewthrougu a f'or- Patented Mar. 25, 195s Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the parts in an intermediate actuated condition; and Figure 4 isa sectional View taken substantially along lines IVQIV of Figure 2.

. Reference numeral 1t) generally designates a street sweeper incorporating a dirt box assembly constructed according to the principles of this invention which may comprise a housing 11 supported on a pair of front wheels 12 and a singlesteerable rear wheel 13, a main broom 14 which is rotated to throw dirt or refuse onto the lower end portion of an upwardly inclined conveyor 15 and a side broom V16 arranged to engage in the street gutterv and throw refuse or dirt into the path of the main broom 14. Y

' The conveyor 15 may be inclined forwardly and the dirt box assembly of this invention may be located at the forward end of the sweeper to receive dirt from the conveyor and accumulate or store dirt until a convenient point for discharge of the dirtV is reached, whereupon the dirt box assembly may be actuated to discharge the dirt.

' According to this invention, the dirt box assembly may comprise a main dirt box generally designated by reference numeral 17 which may comprise a floor 18 normally disposed in a generally horizontal position to receive dirt from the upper end of the conveyor 15, a pair of side walls 19 and 2t) and a rearward end wall 21 for preventing ow of dirt off of the dirt box oor 13.

ItV will be noted that the rearward end of the dirt box 17 is disposed in relatively closely spaced relation to the lower end portion of the conveyor and that the dirt box 17 is in underlying relation to the upper end portion of the conveyor 15. With this arrangement, the space within the housing 11 of the street sweeper 10 is utilized to maximum advantage for dirt storage,

The dirt box 17 may be supported for tilting movement between a position as illustrated in full lines in Figures 2 and3 and a position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3 to discharge dirt therefrom, preferably about an axis adjacent the forward end thereof so that the dirt is discharged from such forward end. To provide this tiltable support, an axle 22 may be supported between the side walls of the housing 11 and the dirt box 17 may have a pair of brackets 23 secured to the underside of the floor 18 to pivotally secure the dirt box 17 on the axle.22. Y

According to a specic feature of the invention, a baille plate 24 is provided for engaging the rearward end of the dirt box during tilting movement thereof, the baffle plate 24 being disposed generally in an arc about the axis of the axle 22 and being disposed in relatively closely spaced relation to the underside of the upper portion of the upwardly inclined conveyor 15. The baie plate 24 is, of course, rigidly supported between the side walls of the housing 1l of the street sweeper 1li.

To provide a seal between the dirt box 17 and the portions of the housing cooperating therewith, a strip 25 of flexible resilient material may extent around the upper edges of the side walls 19 and 20 and the rearward end wall 21 of the dirt box 17, the strip 25 being secured to the side and end walls by a strap 26 bolted to the side and end walls and clamping the strip 25 thereto, the strip 25 being urged by its own resilience into pressure contact with the side walls of the housing 11 and with the baffle plate 24 so as to provide a'seal.V

It should be noted that the side walls of the housing 11,v to'which reference numerals 27 and V28 are applied, carry plates 29 and 30 spaced inwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the dirt box'17 adjacent the sides 19 and 20, respectively, thereof to provide space for the journalling of the front wheels 12 of the sweeper 10. The plates 29 and 30 are, ofcourse, engaged by the strip 25 4 of flexible resilientrrnaterial to provide the seal between the dirt box 17 and the sides of the housing 11.

The housing 11 has a top wall 31 which is sloped downwardly at the forward end thereof and terminated at an edge 32 spaced upwardly from the plane of the dirt box oor 18 in its normal position. The side walls 27 and 28 of the housing 11 have forward edges extending 'l between the ends of the edge'32 of the top 31 to points generally in alignment with the forward edge of the dirt box floor 18. There isY thus provided an opening at the forward end of the housing 11. Y

This opening is arranged to be closed by means of a door generally designated-'by referencel numeral 33 which comprises a forward Wall 34 arranged to extend downwardly and slightly forwardly from the edge 32 of the top wall 31 of the housing 11 to form a continuation i of the top wall 31, a pair of generally triangularly shaped side walls 435 and 36 arranged vto form continuation of the side walls 27 and 28, respectively, of the housing 11, and oor means generally designated by reference numeral 37 arranged for disposition in a generally horizontal plane to form a continuation of the oor 18 of the main dirt box 17. The door 33 thus provides an additional dirt box.

The door 33 is supported for tilting movement Aaway from the dirt box 17 out of closing relation to the opening' 4 in the forward end `of the housing 11 to discharge dirt from floor means 37 and also to allow discharge of'the dirt from the dirt box 17. j

For this purpose, a pair of plates 38 are secured to and projected rearwardly from upper end portions of the wall 34 of the door 33 and are pivotally secured by means of pins 39 to a pair of plates 40 secured to and extending rearwardly and downwardly from the top wall 3'1 of the housing 11 above the edge 32 thereof. The' plates 3S may preferably have recessed upper edge portions 41 concavely arcuate about the axis of pins 39 so that the axis of tilting movement of the door 33 is as high as possible and yet theplates 33 clear the edge 32 of the top 31.

The door 33 may preferably be power-actuated and,

. for this purpose, a pair of hydraulic cylinders 42 may be pivoted by means of pins 43 to the housing 11 with piston rods 44 projecting from the cylinders 42 being pivotally connected to the plates 33 by means of pins 45. By actuation of the cylinders 42, the piston rods 44may be forced downwardly and forwardly to pivot the door 33 from the full line position of Figure 2 through the dotted line position of Figure 2 (the full line position of Figure 3) to the do-tted line position of Figure 3. It may be noted kthat the cylinders 42 are in relatively closely spaced relation under the top 31 of the housing 11 so as to be out of the path of dirt discharged from the conveyor 15 and dirt accumulating in the dirt box assembly. It might also be noted that the plates 38, in addition to providing a pivotal support for the door 33, also serve as a means for connecting the door 33 to the pistons 44 of the hydraulic cylinders 42.k

An important feature of the present invention resides in a connection between the door 33 and the dirt box 17 by which the dirt box 17 is actuated by outward movement of the door 33 but not until the door 33 is opened to a predetermined extent.

According to this feature, a pair of links 4.5 are pivotally secured by means of pins 47 to bosses 48 projecting inwardly from the sides 19 and 2d of the dirt box 17. The other ends of the links 46 are pivoted by means of pins 49 toplinks 5t] which are, in turn, pivoted to the plates 38 by means of pins, or bolts, 51.

in the normal position of the door 33, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 2, the axis of the pins 49 is spaced a substantial distance forwardly from a line through the axes of the pins 47 and 51. With this arrangement, the door 33 maybe tilted .forwardly and upwardly asubstantial distance before actuation of the dirt box 17, for example, to a position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2, or as illustrated in full lines in Figure 3.

However, when this position is reached, means are provided limiting further movement of the pins 49 toward the line between the axes of the pins 47 and 51 and with further outward movement of the door 33, the dirt box 17 will be tilted upwardly about the shaft 22 to a discharge position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

For limiting relative pivotal movement between the links 46 and the links 50, the links 50 may have inwardly projecting bosses intermediate the pins 49 and 51 through which bolts 53 are threaded, the ends of the bolts being engageable with end portions of the links 46 to limit movement of the pins 49 toward a line between the axes of the pins 47 and 51. The point at which further movement is prevented may be adjusted, of course, by adjustment of the bolts 53.

It could happen that the dirt box 17 might be left in a position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3 and that mud or the like might prevent the dirt box 17 from dropping to its normal position of Figure 2 under its own weight. To insure that the dirt` box 17 will drop to its normal position of Figure 2, a coiled tension spring 54 is disposed under a central portion of the dirt box 17 and has one end secured to a bracket 55 secured to the underside of the dirt box oor 18 with its other end being secured to a bracket 56 xedly supported from the housing of the sweeper.

It will be apparent, accordingly, that this invention provides a readily constructed and operated, efficient and reliable dirt box assembly which achieves maximum dirt storage capacity within a street sweeper housing of minimum overall size.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a street sweeper or the like, an upwardly inclined conveyor, a dirt box disposed in underlying relation to an upper portion of said conveyor and tiltable upwardly about an axis adjacent the end thereof spaced furthest from the lower end of said conveyor, and a stationary baille plate for engaging the other end of said dirt box during tilting movement thereof and disposed in an arc about said axis in relatively closely spaced relation to the underside of said upper portion of said conveyor.

2. In a street sweeper, a housing, an upwardly inclined conveyor within said housing, a dirt box having a floor normally disposed in a horizontal plane below the upper end portion of said conveyor, means adjacent the end of said dirt box remote from said conveyor for supporting said dirt box for upward pivotal movement about a horizontal axis parallel to said conveyor with the other end of said dirt box being thereby moved in an are adjacent the underside of the upper end portion of said conveyor, a door pivotal on said housing for movement labout an axis parallel to said horizontal axis and spaced upwardly therefrom, said door including a generally vertical wall forming an end wall for the hous- 6` ing and a bottom wall forming a continuation of said dirt box floor, said door being pivoted outwardly and said dirt box being pivoted upwardly to discharge dirt from said housing.

3. A street sweeper according to claim 2 further including means acting between said door and said housing for pivoting said door outwardly, and a lost-in motion linkage between said door and said dirt box for pivoting said dirt box upwardly after said door has been moved outwardly to a certain extent. I

4. A street sweeper according to claim 3 in which said linkage comprises a tirst link pivoted on a rst axis to said dirt box, a second link pivoted to said first link on a second axis and pivoted to said door on a third axis, said second axis being normally disposed a substantial distance from a line through said rst and third axes, and adjustable means for limiting movement of saidsecond axis toward said line.

5. A street sweeper according to claim 4 in which said adjustable means comprises a screw threaded on one of said links and engageable with the other of said links.

6. In a street sweeper, a housing having side walls, an upwardly inclined conveyor within said housing, a dirt box having a floor normally disposed in a horizontal plane below the upper end of said conveyor, means adjacent the end of said dirt box remote from said conveyor for supporting said dirt box for upward pivotal movement about a horizontal axis parallel to said conveyor with the other end of said dirt box being thereby moved in an arc adjacent the underside of the upper end portion of said conveyor, and a door pivoted on said housing for movement about an axis parallel to said horizontal axis and spaced upwardly therefrom, said door including a generally vertical wall forming an end wall for the housing, a pair of side walls forming continuations of the side walls of said housing, and a bottom wall forming a continuation of said dirt box oor, said door being pivoted outwardly and said dirt box being pivoted upwardly to discharge dirt from said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 866,628 Crowson Sept. 24, 1907 1,239,293 Murphy Sept. 4, 1917 1,338,369 Henderson Apr. 27, 1920 1,506,762 Manierre Sept. 2, 1924 1,887,465 Priestman Nov. 8, 1932 2,199,703 Hough May 7, 1940 2,213,385 Dailey Sept. 3, 1940 2,511,866 Mork June 20, 1950 2,553,484 Stauch May 15, 1951 2,609,622 Murray Sept. 9, 1952 2,614,279 Mott Oct. 21, 1952 2,669,043 Reischl Feb. 16, 1954 2,684,496 Lull July 27, 1954 2,703,184 Barrett Mar. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,652 Great Britain 1893 621,692 Germany Nov. 12, 1935 910,658 Germany -..May 6, 1954 

